Nick Schulyer being tansported to Tampa General Hospital.
Posted on 03/02/2009 12:06:36 PM PST by Reagan69
Nick Schuyler was taken via helicopter to Tampa General Hospital. Officials are still searching for former Buccaneers Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper, along with ex-USF football player William Bleakley.
(Excerpt) Read more at baynews9.com ...
Word is coming in that they also found Cooper but won’t confirm.
One of the missing NFL players has been found ALIVE - just saw this on our local Tampa Bay area news.
21 ft seems a little small unless it is filled with foam and floats like a cork.
970 WFLA Todd Schnitt Show.... He’s giving local color on the mishap. Boat expert will be on soon.
Former USF player found. No NFL players yet...
Perhaps they listened to another NOAA broadcast.
Schnitt Show just said boat can’t sink - filled with foam. Looks small for big football players to fish in.
The wind on Sunday was very very strong in this area of Florida. Not good for being stranded at sea.
Watching waves wash completely over the overturned vessel. That had to be miserable for four big men clinging to the belly of a 21’ swamped boat. One, or maybe two would have been able to grasp the propeller. The others would be trying to balance on the smooth underside. No easy task in those waters.
UPDATE: We have just learned from a family member that Marquis Cooper may be alive. We are awaiting more detail.
Nick Schulyer is at TGH in serious condition.
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=101513&catid=8
Completely and totally irresponsible to go out at all in a boat that small, given the forecast. The forcast was for 4-6 foot waves and building to 6-10’ throughout the day. Even the big boys in their 60 footers don’t do that. The cold front that pushed through on Saturday was brutal and they paid the price. 21 footer? That’s a bass boat, not an offshore machine.
Yes, it was an Everglade boat, apparently filled with foam and unsinkable
Nick Schulyer being tansported to Tampa General Hospital.
If it's like the boat shown on another thread there's not that much to hold on to. 12 foot swells will literally turn it upside down and you better either be tied down or holding onto something solid very, very, tight. The safest place to be would be if there was an access into the inner hull {highly unlikely on that small a boat} and at that a high risk of drowning. Still bettter than being tossed over.
In a much larger vessel, I stay at the slip when the wind is expected at around 20 to 25 knots... sheez, what were they thinking? Checking the weather would be the first line of defense...even for a dummie like me.
I went outside last night with pants and a jacket on and couldn't believe how cold it was. How this guy survived overnight in that wind, given the temperature of the air and water, is truly astounding. His parents must be overwhelmed.
Things can happen when you’re on the water. I heard it WAS a foam-filled fiberglass hull and did not sink. But still, a 21 foot boat seems small in 8 foot seas.
I wonder why they didn’t come in when it started to get rough. Engine trouble? Were they lost?
I guess they thought anchoring would prevent them from getting blown out to sea, but it might have contributed to the capsize.
What temp is the Gulf this time of year?
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